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Toronto Life - The Informer

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December 8, 2011 | 4:15 pm

Nestlé turns NIMBY over a proposed mixed-use development near its Junction factory

Nestlé’s South Junction factory (Image: Uncle Tubby)

With the support of nearby residents, local developer Castlepoint Realty has proposed 45 new townhouses, several office towers (with urban garden roofs) and a public square in Toronto’s South Junction Triangle, which would go a long way toward revitalizing the barren neighbourhood. As it stands, the area is speckled with rubble and abandoned buildings—but apparently that’s the way Nestlé likes it. The company runs a chocolate factory nearby and fears that the 24/7 trucks, noise and even sweet aroma will drive occupants mad. Critics, however, point to another Ward 18 factory run by Cadbury, which has coexisted with its neighbours for years. For our part, we think Nestlé should probably just listen to its own advice. Read the entire story [The Globe and Mail] »

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December 6, 2011 | 5:20 pm
Mississauga to create a Waterfront Toronto–like body (but without meddlesome Doug Ford and his Ferris wheel) 

While Toronto is still busy making Ferris wheel jokes, the city’s neighbour to the west is looking to create a single agency that would oversee its waterfront development. Mississauga’s city council unanimously approved the creation of a waterfront development corporation, in hopes of expediting progress and shedding bureaucratic weight. Plans even include building a mixed-use neighbourhood. So just like Waterfront Toronto—only presumably more effective. Read the entire story [Globe and Mail] »

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December 5, 2011 | 4:35 pm

The Atlantic Cities names Sherbourne Common one of the best new parks on the planet

(Image: dtstuff9 from the Torontolife.com Flickr pool)

When it opened this summer, Sherbourne Common proved that storm water filtration can be beautiful too. A few weeks back, The Atlantic’s new-ish website the Atlantic Cities caught on and named it one of the nine best new parks in the world. According to the site, “sustainability is prevalent, as the park easily accommodates alternative transportation methods while the design takes into account water efficiency for landscaping.” While we loved the way the park is helping to revitalize the waterfront, we suspect it would be even more appealing if it wasn’t surrounded by upturned dirt and construction fences. Read the entire story [The Atlantic] »

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November 22, 2011 | 10:25 am

Toronto Star makes real estate and numbers fun with an illustrated feature on city condo living

Toronto condo towers (Image: picturenarrative from the Torontolife.com Flickr pool)

In a flurry of pie charts, bar graphs and cartoons this past weekend, the Toronto Star published its first instalment of Vertical Toronto, a visual series about condo life in the city. And, yes, we learned a thing or two. Turns out 60 per cent of Toronto households live in apartments—379,055 in high-rises, 205,825 closer to the ground. Remember when we reported that Toronto’s condo-building blitz is crushing New York City and Mexico City? The Star reveals the numbers behind completed condos: while T.O. (1,879) is far, far behind NYC (5,967), Hogtown is still ahead of every other city in North America. But the most interesting factoid comes from a sidebar about the sculptures outside city apartment towers: it seems developers aren’t actually enthused patrons of the arts. Section 37 of the Planning Act allows them to petition for a higher or denser build if they make a generous donation to a “community benefit,” like parks, community centres, heritage sites or public art installations. Since 1998, 130 works have been funded this way. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »

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November 10, 2011 | 11:00 am

CN Tower reclaims some of its dignity with a Guinness World Record for EdgeWalk

Apparently, lightning can strike twice—the CN Tower claimed a new world record (Image: picturenarrative from the torontolife.com Flickr pool)

The CN Tower has had a rough few years. First it lost the world record for the world’s tallest man-made structure to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Then it lost its status as the world’s tallest tower to the Canton Tower in Guangzhou, China. And then the Burj Khalifa claimed the title of the world’s highest restaurant too, leaving the CN Tower with only the dubious accolade of world’s highest wine cellar. But this week, Torontonians have reason for some tepid celebration, now that the city’s beleaguered landmark has a new Guinness World Record—that of highest external walk on a building. A certificate was presented to officials Tuesday on the EdgeWalk itself: a 1.5-metre-wide ledge 356 metres above the pavement. We’re happy the tower is still pulling in the records (even if we think “Most certain death from an attraction mishap” might garner more attention). Read the entire story [Huffington Post] »

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November 7, 2011 | 3:50 pm
A symbol of Torontonian modesty and bureaucracy lives on—yes, the Fort York bridge is back from the grave 

Urban planning types (and bridge lovers in general), rejoice! The Fort York Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge, which recently won an urban design award despite the fact that council voted to kill the project, will be resurrected. The public works committee approved a plan to build a bridge that will be less flashy and a few million dollars cheaper. Of course, the news wasn’t all good. Construction on the bridge cannot start until 2014, and time and money was surely wasted on the original plan. So the city will be left with is a bridge that’s impressive (but not too impressive), expensive (but not too expensive), wrapped in bureaucratic red tape, late and perhaps a little bit wasteful. In other words, the final product will be “quintessentially Torontonian.” Read the entire story [National Post] »

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November 4, 2011 | 9:05 am
Ryerson’s fancy new glass building one step closer to reality 

Toronto East York council gave Ryerson University the nod to build a large glass building, and the proposal for the building will now go before city council. Opponents say that the building clashes with the rest of Yonge Street, which is sort of hard to dispute—an enormous crystal-like structure will definitely stand out amid a sea of squat buildings and storefronts. But perhaps that shouldn’t be held against it? Yonge between Dundas and Gerrard (and beyond) could use a little spice. Read the entire story [National Post] »

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October 24, 2011 | 4:35 pm

Joel Richardson’s city-authorized mural in the Junction is restored after city-authorized destruction

Image: Nathan Whitlock

The story has come full circle: commissioned, decommissioned, re-commissioned, restored. After Joel Richardson’s mural was scrubbed from an underpass by Rob Ford’s graffiti Gestapo, the artist has now spray-painted a full replacement, with some alterations. The debacle actually worked out pretty well—Richardson received international exposure (leading to a showcase in New York City), sparked a debate about street art and prompted a plan for a database of city-sanctioned graffiti. While it’s not clear whether or not he was paid a second time, local businesses did help cover $800 in expenses. “I’m thrilled that they gave the space back to me,” Richardson told CBC News—although we hear he tried to preserve the other graffiti on-site, including an unflattering caricature of the mayor. Read the entire story [CBC] »

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October 18, 2011 | 10:35 am
Toronto ranked middle of the pack by Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards 

Publishing powerhouse Condé Nast recently released the Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards—an annual roundup of the best places to visit and stay around the world—and Toronto’s showing was average at best. More than eight million votes were cast for the survey, with top honours going to exotic locales like Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, the Peninsula House in Dominican Republic and Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. Toronto, on the other hand, seems to lack the allure of other far-flung (read: tropical) destinations. In fact, no Toronto-based hotels made the cut on the Top 100 travel experiences list, although a few Canadian locations did (King Pacific Lodge in B.C., Langdon Hall in Cambridge, Ontario, Emerald Lake Lodge in B.C. and Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec City). In the Canadian rankings, Toronto ranked fifth, behind practically every other city that matters (Quebec City, Vancouver, Montreal and even little Victoria). Although a few local spots did make the cut for the Canadian hotels list (the Hazelton Hotel was named fifth best in the country, the Four Seasons in Yorkville ranked 27th and the Windsor Arms and the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel took 31st and 35th place, respectively), the results prove that the CN Tower has nothing on historical clout, mountains or waterfalls. The verdict: we could really use an ocean view and year-round sunshine. Read the entire story [Condé Nast] »

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October 17, 2011 | 9:45 am
The link to Billy Bishop will—officially—be a tunnel (not a network of gondolas) 

The federal government has given the go-ahead for a pedestrian tunnel connecting the Island airport with mainland Toronto. The Globe and Mail reported late last week that the plan required some wheedling, as Toronto Port Authority regulations prevented any kind of permanent link to the islands (much to the disappointment of any weak swimmer who has ever missed the last ferry home). We assume this is exciting news for frequent flyers and anybody else who loves Billy Bishop Airport and its resident carrier Porter Airlines as much as we do. However, for cable car enthusiasts, it’s likely the nail in the coffin for their high-flying gondola dreams. Read the entire story [Globe and Mail] »

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October 5, 2011 | 4:35 pm
Toronto is building more high-rises than any other city in North America (even New York) 

Toronto is building more high-rises than New York City—and, for that matter, any other city on the continent. According to the Toronto Star, Toronto has 132 high-rises currently under construction, which easily tops Mexico City’s 88 and NYC’s 86. No other city in North America comes close, so take that, Chicago. Of course, those with a bad case of New York envy might want to avoid looking at the totals for high-rises and skyscrapers already built. The Big Apple has the Big Smoke beat by almost 4,100 buildings. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »

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August 30, 2011 | 2:45 pm
Vancouver loses the top spot on The Economist’s livable cities list, with Toronto now nipping at its heels 

The Economist Intelligence Unit updated its livability survey index today, dumping Vancouver from its exalted rank as the world’s most livable city for the first time in almost a decade. Toronto, on the other hand, held steady in the number four spot, which puts the city neck-and-neck with Vancouver (which fell to number three behind Melbourne and Vienna) for bronze. That said, it seems Vancouver could quite easily regain the top spot next time—apparently, the hit it took this time around was mostly the result of a major highway closure (which actually was on Vancouver Island, 120 kilometres away), something that isn’t expected to happen again any time soon. That means Toronto needs to either work on its livability (lower housing costs and transit times might help) or find a way to make life a little less lovely in the world’s more livable locales. For our part, we suggest sending Giorgio Mammoliti to Vienna. Read the entire report [The Economist Intelligence Unit] »

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August 4, 2011 | 5:06 pm

Is six storeys too tall for a condo? Opponents of a Glen Davis Ravine development say yes

An interesting anti-development fight has quietly been simmering in the city’s east end, where a handful of local community activists are fighting a condo development along Kingston Road. What’s so new about that? Not much, except that their argument is that the condo developer will be ruining the ravine that serves as their backyard, and they want the city to protect it by forcing a smaller development. Oh, and the proposed development in question? It’s only six storeys.

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July 25, 2011 | 11:45 am

Rejoice, Roncesvalles: the construction has finally come to a close

The street can now return to more idyllic times (Image: Double Feature)

Up until this past weekend, the word “Roncesvalles” had basically been synonymous with “road construction,” or perhaps even “for the love of God, somebody help us.” Luckily for local residents, the seemingly everlasting roadwork came to a formal end on Saturday as the neighbourhood celebrated the closing of two years of construction and the opening of the renewed strip.

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July 7, 2011 | 9:30 am

Pier-less Burlington still waiting for its promised—but seemingly doomed—downtown waterfront attraction

A shot of the bay in Burlington (Image: Brie79)

Standing proof that mismanaged construction projects that drag on for years aren’t just the stuff of the 4-1-6, more than eight years and millions upon millions of dollars later Burlington residents are still waiting for what was supposed to be a landmark waterfront attraction to be complete. The Brant Street pier, an extension of Burlington’s main drag designed to curve outwards more than 130 metres into Lake Ontario, has seen its construction marred with unexpected costs, huge delays and freak accidents, including an incident where—seriously—a crane toppled over back in 2008.

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